Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs
ABSTRACT Cranial crests show considerable variation within the Pterosauria, a group of flying reptiles that developed powered flight. This includes the Wukongopteridae, a clade of non-pterodactyloids, where the presence or absence of such head structures, allied with variation in the pelvic canal, h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academia Brasileira de Ciências
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| Series: | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652017005002105&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1811194571079548928 |
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| author | XIN CHENG SHUNXING JIANG XIAOLIN WANG ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER |
| author_facet | XIN CHENG SHUNXING JIANG XIAOLIN WANG ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER |
| author_sort | XIN CHENG |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Cranial crests show considerable variation within the Pterosauria, a group of flying reptiles that developed powered flight. This includes the Wukongopteridae, a clade of non-pterodactyloids, where the presence or absence of such head structures, allied with variation in the pelvic canal, have been regarded as evidence for sexual dimorphism. Here we discuss the cranial crest variation within wukongopterids and briefly report on a new specimen (IVPP V 17957). We also show that there is no significant variation in the anatomy of the pelvis of crested and crestless specimens. We further revisit the discussion regarding the function of cranial structures in pterosaurs and argue that they cannot be dismissed a priori as a valuable tool for species recognition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:28:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f11cdb7345804fbf99ff6b5a2ffab6a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-2690 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:28:58Z |
| publisher | Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| spelling | doaj.art-f11cdb7345804fbf99ff6b5a2ffab6a32022-12-22T03:55:25ZengAcademia Brasileira de CiênciasAnais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências1678-2690010.1590/0001-3765201720160742S0001-37652017005002105Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaursXIN CHENGSHUNXING JIANGXIAOLIN WANGALEXANDER W.A. KELLNERABSTRACT Cranial crests show considerable variation within the Pterosauria, a group of flying reptiles that developed powered flight. This includes the Wukongopteridae, a clade of non-pterodactyloids, where the presence or absence of such head structures, allied with variation in the pelvic canal, have been regarded as evidence for sexual dimorphism. Here we discuss the cranial crest variation within wukongopterids and briefly report on a new specimen (IVPP V 17957). We also show that there is no significant variation in the anatomy of the pelvis of crested and crestless specimens. We further revisit the discussion regarding the function of cranial structures in pterosaurs and argue that they cannot be dismissed a priori as a valuable tool for species recognition.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652017005002105&lng=en&tlng=enWukongopteridaePterosauriacranial crestsexual dimorphismChina |
| spellingShingle | XIN CHENG SHUNXING JIANG XIAOLIN WANG ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Wukongopteridae Pterosauria cranial crest sexual dimorphism China |
| title | Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs |
| title_full | Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs |
| title_fullStr | Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs |
| title_short | Premaxillary crest variation within the Wukongopteridae (Reptilia, Pterosauria) and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs |
| title_sort | premaxillary crest variation within the wukongopteridae reptilia pterosauria and comments on cranial structures in pterosaurs |
| topic | Wukongopteridae Pterosauria cranial crest sexual dimorphism China |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652017005002105&lng=en&tlng=en |
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